When Things Fall Apart: Building Organizational Strength of Humanitarian Aid Organizations

Humanitarian aid organizations (HAOs) constantly balance competing demands: developmental change with emergency relief; visible and immediate impact with long-term sustainability; and donor and media demands with the needs of the population.

HAOs are usually the first on the scene in the wake of a disaster, and as more organizations enter the field and solicit public support to aid victims of disasters, the humanitarian sector is facing demands for greater accountability and scrutiny of its capabilities to deliver aid to those in need.

Despite the critical work of these organizations, relatively little is known about how they operate or, indeed, about the extraordinarily difficult environments in which they operate.

This briefing paper provides a framework that may be employed by HAO leaders, managers, field staff—and by HAO funders—to foster, measure, and improve organizational effectiveness.